2018: Resolutions, and New Travel Plans

Travel Plans and Resolutions for 2018

A new year is always exciting because it feels like a fresh start. It’s a clean slate, and a new opportunity to recreate yourself. While the most popular resolutions include weight loss and exercise, I try to make a new year about new experiences. Some of my past resolutions have included running a half marathon and getting into photography. Here are some of my 2018 resolutions and goals, and why you should adopt some of these as well!

Further my photography skills:

I bought my first camera with my first paycheck as a nurse. In 2017, I taught myself how to shoot in manual mode, and have truly learned the ins and outs of my camera. In 2018, I’d like to take my photography to the next level. I am currently taking a travel photography course on thegreatcourses.com, and hope to become more intentional with the photos I take.

If you’re interested in learning about photography this year, I recommend taking a course for beginners on this same site! The courses are taught by expert photographers that have worked for companies such as National Geographic. They provide you with the tools you need to really learn about your camera and how to take and edit photos like a professional.

Don’t know which camera to purchase? These are the cameras I recommend for beginners:

If you’re a little more experienced with photography, and want to step up your game, here are some cameras that I recommend for experienced photographers (most of these are full-frame sensors, but there are a few cropped-frame sensors for shutter bugs that are on a budget or don’t want to upgrade):

Be more adventurous:

While a lot of people think that I’m fearless, I’m actually relatively timid and reserved. I rarely do something without thoroughly researching it, and I can talk myself out of just about anything. This year, I’ll be stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things far more frequently than I have in the past. To follow through on this 2018 resolution, I will be doing more extreme excursions during my travels this year (and buying a go pro to capture the screaming memories). I’ll be documenting my experiences here, and am taking suggestions for how to be more adventurous!

Be more intentional:

Since graduating from college, I’ve kind of slacked off on the organization and planning. Since I work such long hours, I often waste my off days lounging around. Furthermore, when I do get to spend time with friends and family, I’m often staring at my phone or laptop screen. I’m never really 100% anywhere due to social media and balancing so many other things. This year, I’m going to be recommitting to my Erin Condren addiction and will actually be using my planner again.

I’ll also be deleting old email addresses and unsubscribing from a lot of emails. I feel like I get so many emails from LinkedIn and Facebook that make me feel overwhelmed by the number of notifications that I have. Hopefully, this goal will make it easier to prioritize my 2018 resolutions as well!

Looking to get organized this year? Use my referral link to get $10 off your first purchase at Erin Condren!

Take better care of my body:

I am so guilty of only sleeping 4-5 hours a night on a regular basis. Frankly, I’m not sure how I’ve gone this long with such little sleep. This year, I’m committing to drinking more water and less coffee, sleeping 8 hours a night, and exercising on a regular basis. (Also if you have any sort of insight on how to naturally have more energy- hit me up!!) Of all my 2018 resolutions, I hope that this one helps me develop habits for life.

I normally use a fit bit to keep track of my steps, but I feel like I’ve gotten bad about ignoring the step requirement notifications. I’m thinking about switching to an apple watch for the step notifications, but I’ve also heard that it drains your phone battery faster. I just can’t decide!! Does anyone have any advice for which to use? Are there any apps out there that I should be downloading?

Get married!!

By the end of 2018, Matt and I will be husband and wife. While the planning process is going to be stressful and tedious at times, I am hoping that we can make the best of it. I am grateful that my parents are as excited as I am and have helped me so much with the wedding planning. While getting married is hardly one of my 2018 resolutions, I am pledging to truly commit myself to Matt wholeheartedly by investing in his hobbies and goals as much as I invest in myself. We are excited for December 15th, 2018, and know that this will be a landmark year in our lives!

Travel Plans for 2018:

While I don’t want to ruin any surprises here, 2018 is going to be a great year full of awesome content. Not all of my plans are set in stone, but you can look forward to outdoor adventures, exotic interactions, and multiple continents this year. My first stop this upcoming year? Disney World.

For the first few months of 2018, look forward to a lot of great content to inspire your own trips! After Disney World, I’ll be headed to the west coast for the ultimate road trip and a California photography tour. After that? Asia! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates of my whereabouts and exclusive travel tips for the everyday young professional.

About me

I'm Danielle. I'm a 23 year old ICU nurse that thoroughly enjoys travel, writing, and photography. Though Nashville is my home, most of my free time is either spent traveling or planning my next trip. I enjoy connecting with people of all backgrounds and cultures. It's my hope that my journey will inspire you to plan one of your own!